Matt Flynn was average in his first game as LSU's No. 1 quarterback. It looked great compared to the way Mississippi State's Michael Henig played Thursday night. Craig Steltz grabbed three of Henig's record-tying six interceptions and the second-ranked Tigers rumbled past the Bulldogs as usual 45-0. Flynn and new offensive coordinator Gary Crowton struggled to find a rhythm early, but they received plenty of help from Henig and the Tigers' defense on a rainy night.

Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm threw for 375 yards and four touchdowns and the 10th-ranked Cardinals sparkled in coach Steve Kragthorpe's debut, drilling overmatched Murray State 73-10 on Thursday night. Brohm led Louisville (1-0) to touchdowns on each of the Cardinals' first eight drives, guiding an attack that looked awfully similar to the wide-open system that former coach Bobby Petrino used to lead the Cardinals to national prominence.

USC assistant football coach Todd McNair said Wednesday that reports detailing his two 1990s convictions for mistreating dogs did not "accurately portray" what actually happened. "I understand the interest about the thing in light of all that's gone on in Virginia with the [Michael] Vick case and everything," he said in an interview outside USC's Heritage Hall. "But my case was totally different from that. . . . I was cited for neglect. I wasn't convicted for abuse." McNair, who is about to begin his fourth season as the Trojans' running backs coach, was charged with cruelty to animals, failure to obtain licenses and keeping animals for the purpose of fighting in March 1996 after authorities found more than 20 pit pulls on property he owned in East Greenwich, N.J.

Quarterback Kyle Reed will transfer from No. 12 California after losing the competition to be Nate Longshore's backup this season, the school said Wednesday. Reed, a redshirt sophomore from Oakland, already has contacted San Jose State about joining its program, a school spokesman said. If Reed enrolls in classes at San Jose State by Sept. 12, he could begin his Spartans career next fall with two years of eligibility remaining.

Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge has a broken pinkie on his throwing hand, but is expected to play Saturday at No. 12 California. "He's thrown a bit, and it looks like he's going to throw fine," coach Phillip Fulmer said Wednesday. "But I appreciate his toughness getting back out there." The senior jammed the right pinkie taking snaps on Monday and an X-ray on Wednesday revealed the break. Fulmer said he expected it would take three to four weeks for Ainge's finger to be back to 100 percent.

Starting receiver Patrick Turner and starting center Matt Spanos both suffered injuries that could affect their availability for Saturday's opener against Idaho. Linebacker Rey Maualuga hit Turner on a pass play over the middle, leaving the 6-foot-5 junior sprawled on the ground. Team medical personnel attended to Turner and then took him for observation on the sideline before sending him for X-rays after practice. "That was a vicious hit," Coach Pete Carroll said.

The University of Texas Board of Regents is expected to announce a new 10-year deal for coach Mack Brown, a contract that is planned keep him in Austin through at least 2017, according to a person familiar with the board's meeting on Tuesday. The regents' agenda for a Tuesday evening conference call includes an item for "discussion and appropriate action regarding change in compensation'' for the coach, who is entering his 10th season. Texas won the national championship in 2005. Brown signed a 10-year contract before the 2005 Rose Bowl. His current salary is about $2.6 million with an annual $100,000 raise. Texas Athletic Director DeLoss Dodds declined to comment on Brown's contract and any pending change other than to call it "good news."

Officials declined comment on Monday, but the University of Texas System Board of Regents is expected to consider a pay raise for Longhorn coach Mack Brown on Tuesday. Brown currently earns $2.66 million, and his contract calls for an automatic $100,000 raise each year. Athletic director DeLoss Dodds declined to comment Monday when asked about the regents' agenda, which includes "discussion and appropriate action regarding change in compensation" for Brown. Of coaches' salaries that have been publicly reported, Brown ranks sixth, behind Alabama's Nick Saban ($4 million), Oklahoma's Bob Stoops ($3.45 million), Iowa's Kirk Ferentz ($2.84 million) and USC's Pete Carroll ($2.78 million).

Joe McKnight, one of the top freshman tailback's in the country, took small steps on Monday toward possibly playing in USC's opener Saturday against Idaho. McKnight practiced for the first time in two weeks and is scheduled to be fitted today with a new brace to protect a stretched ligament in his right knee. "I don't feel rusty," McKnight said after the Trojans' no-pads workout. McKnight, however, has not been cleared for contact. "He's cleared to run and make his moves and do all that kind of stuff," Coach Pete Carroll said. "They just want to take it one day at time and see how strong he is and see how he handles it."

USC will not grant a release to former wide receiver Jamere Holland if he wants to transfer to Florida, according to sources. Holland, who left the team and was dismissed by USC coach Pete Carroll last week, listed Florida as one of five schools on his release form. But USC will not grant the release because Holland's former coach at Taft High of Woodland Hills, Troy Starr, works at Florida as director of football operations. Their close relationship apparently disturbs some within USC's athletic department who believe Starr and Holland probably communicated before Holland transferred.